Combined exerciser and bodyvibrating apparatus



Nov. 19, 1968 R. B. RICKEY ETAL COMBINED EXERCISEIR AND BODY-VIBRATINGAPPARATUS Filed June 8, 1966 2 Sheets-Sheet l FIG. 2 6.9

INVENTORS ROBERT B. R/CKEY HUGH 8. KING United S This invention relatesto a physical fitness apparatus in which a variety of actions may beperformed including one or more of the following: punching bag practice,rowing exercises, chinning exercises or any other type exercises to beperformed on a bar, and vibrating massage action. The present inventionis particularly adapted, but not limited to, home use as a familyexercising apparatus.

Heretofore, there have been various exercising devices, but none thatcould serve as an all purpose apparatus for use in the home in which inone compact apparatus many diverse actions could be performed. Forexample, heretofore there has been punching bag equipment, but it wasnecessary to install it more or less permanently in a building, andthere has been no free standing punching bag equipment that could beused in the home. In addition, there have been other pieces of rowingexercise equipment and vibrating equipmentybut due to the diversity ofthe parts necessary for such equipment, they have usually been separatepieces of equipment. 'In other words, in order to have the equipment forperfoming many and varied exercises, it was heretofore necessary to havea large amount of different pieces of equipment which usually filled aroom.

The present invention is directed towards overcoming the above-mentionedand other problems by providing a compact home gymnasium, which is notattached in any manner to the house, and can be easily stored when notin use.

Thus, one of the objects of the present invention is to provide physicalfitness apparatus that is convertible to many uses.

A further object is to provide such apparatus which has a minimum ofparts, which is compact, and can be easily stored.

A further object is to provide such apparatus which includes a uniquemultipurpose base that is free standing and upon which the variousexercising devices are mounted.

A further object is to provide such apparatus in which unique means isprovided for supporting a punching bag so that when in an in useposition, the punching bag I is securely supported and which isswingable to a nonuse position whereby other pieces of equipment can beused.

A further object is to provide such supporting means for the punchingbag in which the chinning bar is utilized to brace the punching bag whenin use.

A further object is to provide such apparatus in which the base thereofincludes a dual purpose base plate that can be selectively used as asupport for a vibrating board or as a floorboard when the punching bagis being used.

A further object is to provide such apparatus in which the base thereofis provided with compartments for the storage of articles such as thepieces of equipment of the apparatus.

A further object is to provide such apparatus in which the base thereofis adapted to selectively receive the heretofore mentioned base plate ora wheeledseat for use in rowing exercises.

A further object is generally to improve the design and construction ofphysical fitness apparatus.

The means by which the foregoing and other objects tes Patent ice of thepresent invention are accomplished and the manner of theiraccomplishment will be readily understood from the followingspecification upon reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of the apparatus of the presentinvention.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken as on the line II-ll of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary view of a portion of the apparatusshown in FIG. 2 and with the punching bag assembly shovm in a positionof non use.

FIG. 4 is a further enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken as on theline lV-IV of FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken as on the line VVof FIG. 2.

FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken as on the line VIVI of FIG. 1 with theslantboard being removed from the base.

FIG. 7 is a view similar to FIG. 6 but showing the base plate in adifferent position from that shown in FIG. 6.

-FIG. 8 is a view similar to FIGS. 6 and 7 but showing the device set upfor rowing exercises.

FIG. 9 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken as on the lineIXIX of FIG. 7.

FIG. 10 is an elevational view of the slantboard showing the undersidethereof.

FIG. 11 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken as on the lineXI-X'I of FIG. 8.

Referring now to the drawings in which the various parts are indicatedby numerals, the apparatus 11 of the present invention includes abox-like base 13 adapted to rest upon a supporting surface, as thesurface S. Base 13 comprises a pair of spaced and parallel sides 15, 17interconnected adjacent the ends thereof by the spaced and parallel ends19, 21. The upper edge of base 13 preferably slopes downwardly towardsend 21 so that when the slantboard 23 (later to be described in detail)is placed thereon, it slants downwardly towards the end 21, as best seenin FIG. 1. The lower edges of sides 15, 17 and the ends 19, 21 arepreferably undercut or cut out to establish the legs 25 at the fourcorners of the base 13, which are the actual portions of the baseresting on surface S. Base 13 includes a pair of longitudinallyextending spaced apart vertical walls 27, 29 which respectively extendbetween ends 19, 21 and are attached therto. Walls 27, 29 arerespectively in parallel spaced relationship to sides 15, 17 and arebetween the sides to divide the base into a pair of compartments 31, 33that extend the length of the base and a vertical opening 35 extendingthrough the base from top to bottom thereof. In other words, verticalopening 35 is defined by the inside intermediate portions of ends 19, 21and the opposing surfaces of the walls 27, 29. Compartments 31, 33 arerespectively provided with bottoms 37, 39 respectively secured betweenthe side 15 and wall 27 and between side 17 and wall 29. The bottoms 37,39 respectively extend the length of the compartment 31, 33 between theends 19, 21. The compartments 31, 33 are respectively provided withremovable coverplates 41, 43 over the tops of the compartments. Each ofthe covers 41, 43 are preferably provided with apertures 45 for use inremoving the covers.

A pair of vertical supports 47, 49 are removably attached as by suitablefastening means 51 to the opposite sides 15, 17 of base 13 intermediatethe ends thereof and adjacent end 19. Supports 47, 49 upstand from base13 and are braced by removable braces 53, 55 respectively extendingbetween the supports 47, 49 and base 13. A pair of sleeves 57, 59 arerespectively slidably mounted on supports 47, 49 and are adapted to beheld in selected vertical positions on the supports as by means of theremovable pins 61 extending through aligned apertures in the sleeves anda selected one of a plurality of apertures 63 in the supports to adjustthe height of the sleeves.

A horizontal chinning bar 65 is supported at opposite ends thereof fromsleeves 57, 59 as by means of the barrel-like portions 67, 69 formedintegrally with the sleeves and extending inwardly towards each other inwhich the ends of the chinning bar are received. Below barrel-likeportion 69 sleeve 59 is provided with an integrally formed bearingportion 71 therearound. An outer sleeve 73 is turnably mounted onbearing portion 71 for turn about a vertical axis coincident with thecenterline of the support 49. Outer sleeve 73 is held against verticalmovement relative to sleeve 59 by means of the upper and lower flanges75, 77 provided on bearing portion 71. A locking screw 79 having ahandle 81 is preferably provided and threadedly engaged in a threadedaperture in outer sleeve 73 so that if desired the locking screw can beturned to engage the end thereof on bearing portion 71 to lock the outersleeve 73 against turning movement relative to the bearing portion. Aprojection 83 is formed on outer sleeve 73 and extends outwardlytherefrom. A support bar 85 is pivotally attached as at 87 by suitablemeans to projection 83. A punching bag 89 is coupled to support bar 85intermediate the ends thereof by suitable coupling means as at 91.

A ring 93 is supported from support bar 85 by suitable means as thefasteners 95 and the resilient pads 97. Ring 93 is mounted concentricwith punching bag 89 with coupling means 91 in the center thereof sothat when the punching bag is used, it will bounce against the ring 93.An upwardly facing saddle 99 which is preferably in the shape ofsubstantially one-half of a cylinder is supported above and centrally ofring 93 by means of the braces 101, 103 which are fixedly attached tothe saddle and extend downwardly therefrom in diverging relationshipwhere the lower ends of the braces are attached at diametric places onring 93 by suitable means as the fasteners 105 and pads 107. A resilientpad 109 is preferably provided on the upper side of saddle 99 and formsa part of the saddle. The assembly 111 which comprises in general sleeve73, projection 83, support bar 85, punching bag 89, coupling means 91,ring 93, saddle 99, and braces 101, 103 is movable between a firstposition in which the punching bag 89 is in a position for use, as bestseen in FIGS. 1 and 2, and a second position in which assembly 111 isswung to the side, as seen in FIG. 3. When the assembly is in said firstposition, saddle 99 is engaged with chinning bar 65 as best seen inFIGS. 2 and which aids in the bracing of the punching bag during usethereof. In other words, the chinning bar 65 backs up the ring 93 sothat when the punching bag 89 hits the ring, it is braced through thebraces 101, 103 and the chinning bar. Also, it will be understood thatwhen assembly 111 is in said first position, the support bar 85 ishorizontal, as best seen in FIG. 2, and the left end thereof as viewedin FIG. 2 is removably held in place on sleeve 57 by suitable means asthe pin 113 extending through aligned apertures in a bracket 115 and inthe end of the support bar. Bracket 115 is fixedly attached to sleeve57. From the foregoing it will be understood that the chinning bar 65,support bar 85, and assembly 111 can be moved as a unit to vary theheight thereof by positioning the sleeves 57, 59.

When apparatus 11 is being used for punching bag exercises, asubstantially rectangular base plate 117 which is substantially the sizeof vertical opening 35, as viewed from the top, is disposed in aposition best seen in FIGS. 7 and 9 for use as a floor board upon whichthe person stands while punching the punching bag 89. Base plate 117rests partially on the supporting surface S and partially on a strap119, which in turn is fixedly attached to bottoms 37, 39 by suitablemeans and which strap extends across opening 35 adjacent the lower partthereof. Base plate 117 is provided with a square hole 121 therethroughand centrally thereof which removably receives a complementary shapedpositioning block 123 that is fixedly attached to strap 119 intermediatethe ends thereof and on the top thereof. Thus, when base plate 117 isput in place with a positioning block 123 received in hole 121, the baseplate is substantially in alignment with vertical opening 35 so that thebase plate forms a floor for the base 13. It will be understood thatbase plate 117 can be put into place and taken out of place fromengagement with positioning block 123 by sliding the base plate endwisebeneath the ends 19 or 21. It will be understood that this is possiblesince the lower edges of the ends are cut out as heretofore described.On the surface 125 of base plate 117 are fixedly attached a plurality ofresilient pads 127 which contact the surface S and which aresubstantially the same thickness as strap 119 so that the base plate 117will lie substantially flat when in position on block 123. In addition,it will be understood that pads 127 provide resistance means so that thebase plate 117 will not slide along the surface S and will hold the base13 stationary under the weight of the user.

When slantboard 23 is used, base plate 117 is turned over from theposition shown in FIG. 7 so that then pads 127 are facing upwardly, asbest seen in FIG. 6, and the base plate is fitted in the upper part ofvertical opening 35. Base plate 117 is supported in the above-mentionedposition by means of the ledges 129 respectively fixedly attached to theinner sides of ends 19, 21 and recessed downwardly from the upper edgesthereof, and by means of the ledges 131 attached to walls 27, 29 andspaced downwardly from the upper edges thereof. In other words, theledges 129, 131 form a continuous horizontal ledge means around theupper portion of vertical opening 35, so that when the base plate 117 isfitted on top of the ledge means, the upper surface of the base platewill fit flush with the upper surfaces of covers 41, 43. Next,slantboard 23 is placed on top of base plate 117 as best seen in FIG. 1.On the bottom surface 133 of slantboard 23 is provided a vibrating motor135 of suitable construction which is attached to the slantboard andwhich is powered by a suitable source of electricity as through the cord137. In addition, on the bottom surface 133 adjacent motor 135 isprovided a stop 139 that engages the edge 141 of base plate 17 whichdefines one edge of the hole 121 so that the slantboard will be heldagainst sliding movement on base plate 117. It will be understood thatwhen slantboard 23 is placed on base plate 117, as above described, thevibrating motor 135 and stop 139 will extend into hole 121 and theslantboard will be resiliently supported from base plate 117 by theresilient pads 127 so that the vibrating motor 135 effectively vibratesthe slantboard. The slantboard 23, as will be seen in FIG. 1, preferablyextends beyond the ends 19, 21 of the base 13 but is substantially thesame width as the base plate 117.

When it is desired to use apparatus 11 for rowing exercises, slantboard23 and base plate 117 are removed and a seat 143 which is provided withfour wheels 145 (only two of which are shown in FIG. 11) turnablysupported beneath the seat by means of the brackets 147 and axles 149(only one of which is shown in FIG. 11). Seat 143 is placed on base 13with one pair of wheels 145 engaging the top surface of one of ledges131 and the other pair of wheels 145 engaging the other ledge 131, asbest seen in FIG. 11, so that the seat can roll back and forth with theledges 131 acting as a trackway. In other words, as viewed in FIG. 8,seat 143 can move back and forth as viewed from top to bottom of thedrawing. A pair of oars 151 are pivotally mounted by suitable means asat 153 from sides 15, 17 adjacent end 21. Pivot means 153 are of anysuitable well known type which preferably give resistance to themovement of oars 151 so that a person can put his foot on a removablefootrest 155 provided on the upper edge of end 21 and while sitting onseat 143 can exercise with the oars 151 in a rowing manner.

From the foregoing description, it will be understood that a verycompact, versatile and uniquely constructed home gymnasium is providedfor use by the entire family. In addition, such an apparatus is providedwhich can be readily stored, as for example, by unfastening the lowerones of fastening means 51 from the supports 47, 49, unfastening thelower ends of the braces 53, 55 pivoting the supports to positions alongthe opposite sides of base 13, storing the detachable pieces ofequipment, such as punching bag 89, foot rest 155, etc., in compartments31, 33, and then standing base 13 on end 19 so that it can be moved outof the way against a wall or stored in a closet. Further, it will beunderstood that the apparatus 11 of the present invention isparticularly adapted for the home since it is not necessary topermanently attach any of the devices to walls, etc., as was heretoforenecessary, as for example, with the previous punching bags. Thus, a freestanding punching bag is provided wherein with the use of the base plate117 and the unique saddle construction at 99, the punching bag has avery steady foundation and backing.

Although the invention has been described and illustrated with respectto a preferred embodiment thereof, it is to be understood that it is notto be so limited since changes and modifications may be made thereinwhich are within the full intended scope of this invention ashereinafter claimed.

We claim:

1. A physical fitness apparatus comprising a free standing base having atop and a bottom and being adapted to rest on a supporting surface, saidbase including ledge means adjacent the top thereof, a base platereceived on said ledge means and removable therefrom, a seat includingwheel means for rollingly engaging said ledge means when said base plateis removed for movement back and forth in rowing exercises, a pair ofoars pivotally mounted on said base for use in the rowing exercises,said base plate being provided with a hole therethrough, a plurality ofcushion means on the upper side of said base. plate, a board resting onsaid cushion means and supported in a slanting position, vibration meansattached to said board on the under side thereof and extending throughsaid hole, stop means on the under side of said board extending intosaid hole and engaging said base plate for holding said board inposition.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 in which is included a pair of verticalsupports attached to said base and upstanding therefrom on oppositesides thereof, a punching bag,

means mounting said punching bag from said pair of vertical supports.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 in which said means mounting said punchingbag comprises a support bar, means coupling said punching bag to saidsupport bar, a ring attached to said support bar in position to beengaged by said punching bag when being punched, an upwardly facingsaddle, brace means supporting said saddle above said ring, a chinningbar extending between said vertical supports; said support bar, saidmeans coupling said punching bag to said support bar, said ring, saidsaddle and said brace means comprising an assembly; means turnablemounting said support bar adjacent one end thereof on one of saidvertical supports for movement of said as sembly between a firstposition in which said punching bag is in position for use and a secondposition in which said assembly is out of the way of said chinning barfor use of said chinning bar, when said assembly is in said firstposition, said chinning bar being engaged by said saddle to brace saidring and said punching bag, and means interposed between said supportbar adjacent the opposite end thereof from said means turnably mountingsaid support bar and the other of said vertical supports for fasteningsaid support bar to said other of said vertical supports in asubstantially horizontal position between said vertical supports.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 in which said base includes means defining avertical opening from top to bottom of said base, a positioning block insaid vertical opening adjacent the lower part thereof, strap meansextending across said opening adjacent the lower part thereof andsupporting said positioning block, said base plate being positionable ina position to rest on the supporting surface and on said strap means inline with said opening with said positioning block being received insaid hole in said base plate.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 in which said base includes a pair ofcompartments for holding articles and cover plates thereover on oppositesides of said vertical opening.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,752,412 4/1930 Blickman 272-781,928,089 9/1933 Blickman 27278 2,674,993 4/ 1954 Harrell 128-33 RICHARDC. PINKHAM, Primary Examiner.

1. A PHYSICAL FITNESS APPARATUS COMPRISING A FREE STANDING BASE HAVING ATOP AND A BOTTOM AND BEING ADAPTED TO REST ON A SUPPORTING SURFACE, SAIDBASE INCLUDING LEDGE MEANS ADJACENT THE TOP THEREOF, A BASE PLATERECEIVED ON SAID LEDGE MEANS AND REMOVABLE THEREFROM, A SEAT INCLUDINGWHEEL MEANS FOR ROLLINGLY ENGAGING SAID LEDGE MEANS WHEN SAID BASE PLATEIS REMOVED FOR MOVEMENT BACK AND FORTH IN ROWING EXERCISES, A PAIR OFOARS PIVOTALLY MOUNTED ON SAID BASE FOR USE IN THE ROWING EXERCISES,SAID BASE PLATE